Out of the cold
The cover of my latest book.
Apologies. It has been seven months since my last post … that sounds somewhat confessional, and in a sense, it is. I hate that I’ve neglected my website, and would like to put an end to that, starting now.
It’s a wintery Sunday night in Sydney on a long weekend, the perfect time to read one of my stories, and I’ll be opening one of my books as soon as I’m done writing this post. I have the glass of cab-sav in hand, the only thing I’m missing is the open fireplace … since moving out of our home of 11 years last November (probably the biggest culprit for my lack of posts) we have had to make do with an electric fireplace. Yes, we are no longer living in the sweet little 1924 Californian Bungalow I’ve described in both my books, where my husband saw the shades of a mournful lady in a red nightgown and a sepia-toned little boy. A lovely new family is filling its spaces now, and I wish them no end of love and happiness.
Much has happened in the last seven months, especially one major development, which I’ll go into in a moment. I’m always delighted when feedback arrives from fans of WHERE SPIRITS DWELL. I’m very proud of the book and thrilled that it continues to draw in new readers, many of whom were not familiar with my first book, SPIRIT SISTERS. I’m heartened that Hachette, the publishers of both of those titles, believes enough in WHERE SPIRITS DWELL to enter it into several Australian literary awards. Regardless of the outcome, it’s encouraging, and I so appreciate their support.
Back to what I’ve been up to for the last half a year, I’ve spoken at Cronulla library (you can watch it here) and was interviewed by the NSW Writers’ Centre (see it here). It was so rewarding to do both. Thanks to everyone involved in making those things happen. In November, I’ll be speaking at the Sutherland Shire Writers’ Festival, which is exciting.
And now to the news. I am starting work on a third book, what I’m envisaging as the last in the SPIRIT SISTERS series. This one is going to focus on the very personal and moving experiences of sensing the spirit of a loved one. Each of my last books has featured a chapter each dedicated to this phenomena, which I find endlessly fascinating and touching—and hopeful. For my next book, I’m concentrating on these experiences. Have you ever sensed the spirit of a late loved one around you? If you’d like to share your story, please drop me a line and tell me about it.
And now, time to lose myself, once more, in one of my interviewees’ astonishing experiences. I’ll shut down the laptop and pick up a book. The weather calls for it. Will I fish out one of my favourites from WHERE SPIRITS DWELL, or delve back into my beloved SPIRIT SISTERS? As I do, I’ll be thinking about a quote by Australian director James Wan, who helmed the chilling haunted house homage Insidious. In an interview last year, he sagely said: “We all live in a space that is our sanctuary, our fortress. The concept that you cannot control it is scary.” I’ve spoken to many people who’d be nodding their heads to that, their eyes turned inwards in remembrance of sanctuaries undone.
